JSU Alum featured in Time Magazine with ‘world’s most downloaded educational video game’

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson State University alum Felisa Ford was recently awarded a feature in Time Magazine for her project and “one of the most downloaded educational games,”, “Good Trouble.”

“Good Trouble,” an extension to the education edition of Minecraft, is a civil rights video game designed to educate the user on the history of social justice and civil rights and was named after a phrase from the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

Ford realized her passion for social justice as an undergraduate while studying at JSU, where she majored in political science.

Ford was able to combine her interests in social justice and technology to invent the video game. She felt it was necessary for children to be further educated in social justice following the death of George Floyd.

She declared that “this was an opportunity to bring social justice content into a platform that children could understand and could receive.” Ford wanted the students to know that “we may all look different, but we all bring value, we all have stories to tell, and we all have words.”

Felicia Ford worked closely with Microsoft to “design a video game that educates children on how the social justice movement shaped the world,” according to university communications.

The game is designed to guide students through periods in the history of social justice movements. Ford stated that she and the Minecraft team believed educators could become equipped with the tools to respond to learners curious about social justice and have a conversation about it.

“Good Trouble” has accumulated over 3 million downloads as of May 2021, reflecting the need for more recognition regarding social justice.

“Based on the number of downloads that we’ve had globally, it just tells us that there’s a need for content like this and that people are receptive to it,” stated Ford. “Our hope was that students would be able to open their minds and gain empathy and understanding for others.”

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2022 WLBT. All rights reserved.